Locomotive grate-lever and handle.



- G. W. GREGORY. LOGOMOTIVE GRATE LEVER AND HANDLE.

APPLIGATION FILED PEB.11, 1913.

1,091,212. 7 Patented Mar.24,191

I WitnesseSi I Inventor by fi JQz/W Attorneys CHARLEY W. GREGORY, OF GOOIDLAND, KANSAS.

LOCOMOTIVE GRATE-LEVER AND HANDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

Application filed. February 11, 1913. Serial No. 747,747.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEY W. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goodland, in the county of Sherman and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Locomotive Grate-Lever and Handle, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a locomotive grate lever and handle therefor, and aims primarily to provide novel means for locking the handle in engagement with he lever, when the handle is attached to the lever, so as to prevent the handle from accidentally dropping off or being lost, as is frequently the case, and which occasionally results in a wreck or other injury.

It is also the object of the present invention to provide a device of the character in dicated, which shall be so constructed that the lever may not be effectively shaken by the handle, until the handle is properly engaged to the lever.

The invention also contemplates the provision of other features and advantages, so as to improve generally the construction and utility of devices of that character to which the present invention relates.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 4, respectively. Fig. 4t is a sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 8.

Referring speclfically to the drawing, the numeral l designates the lever for shaking the grate of a locomotive, the same being flat and pivoted through the wall of the fire box or other suitable part, so that the inner end thereof may be operatively connected to the rocking grate bars. The outer end of the lever 4 is circular in cross section, the said circular portion merging into the intermediate portion of the lever.

The actuating handle has been designated by the numeral 5, the same being provided with asuitable hand hold at its outer end and being provided with a socket 6 to, re-

ceive the outer end of the lever 4;. In order that the handle 5 may be locked on the lever 4, the lever l has been provided with a pair of dlametrically opposite grooves or channels 7 extending longitudinally inward from its outer end and terminating at their inner ends in angular or lateral branches 8, formmg bayonet grooves or slots. A pair of pins or lugs 9 are passed inwardly into the socket intermediate its ends and diametrically opposite each other, the inner ends of the pins or lugs protruding into the sockets and being adapted to enter the bayonet grooves of the lever. The outer end of the lever L is also preferably rounded, while the socket 6 is tapered from the pins or lugs 9 to its inner end, the said tapered portion 10 being adapted to seat against the tapered portion 11 of the lever i, and also assistlng in engaging the socket onto the outer end of the lever. The socket 6 is of a uniform diameter from the lugs to its outer end and the outer end of the lever l is uniform in diameter throughout the length of the grooves while the outer arm of the lever is tapered outwardly from adjoining the fulcrum to the tails of the grooves. This is of advantage for the reason that the socket will snugly engage the outer end of the lever, the tapered portions binding against each other to prevent looseness. The handle is also provided with a lateral opening 12 therethrough at the outer end of and equal in diameter to the socket, through which coal, ashes and other extraneous matter may be forced from the socket 6 so as not to clog the socket, or which opening may permit the handle to be suspended on a hook, nail or the like. This opening is of advantage for other reasons which will be maniest.

In use, the handle may be readily engaged to the lever, by inserting the inner end of the socket over the outer end of the lever and by bringing the pins 9 into registration or alinement with the bayonet slots, so that when the handle is forced inwardly, the pins may engage in the bayonet slots. Thus, after the handle has been forced home, the handle may be rotated slightly to lock the same in position. It is to be noted that the tapered portion 10 of the socket beyond the pins 9 Will preclude the rocking or shaking of the lever 4 until the pins 9 have been engaged in the bayonet slots. This is of advantage for the reason that if the inner end of the socket is engaged over the outer end of the lever, with the pins abutting against the end of the lever, so as to lead the operator to believe that the handle is in engagement with the lever, the handle in being swung Will merely swing loosely on the end of the lever and will not actuate the lever. The operator will thus be warned of the defective engagement of the handle and lever, and may then rotate the handle so that the pins engage the bayonet slots. It will be noted, that in the manner indicated, the handle may be locked in posit-ion on the lever, so that the handle may not be accidentally detached or lost, as would be liable to produce a resulting damage. The other advantages of the present invention will be manifest to those versed in the art, and need not be itemized at length.

What is claimed is In combination, a pivoted grate-shaking lever having a pair of dian'lctrically opposite bayonet grooves in its outer end, and an actuating handle having a socket at its inner end to fit over the end of the said lever, and having a pair of diametrically opposite lugs pro ecting into the socket intermediate the ends of the socket, the socket being tapered from the lugs to its inner end, and being of uniform diameter from the lugs to its outer end, the outer end of the lever being uniform in diameter throughout the length of the grooves and the outer arm of the lever being tapered outwardly to the tails of the grooves.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLEY XV. GREGORY. lVitnesses DIMMITT, D. E., R. L. HAYAL.

M Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. M 

